Fuse for outlet connections



F. J. KLANCNIK FUSE FOR OUTLET CONNECTIONS Filed Nov. 19, 1958 ELL 67%Fan/ d fjandfl Sept. 23, 1941.

Patented Sept. 23,1941

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUSE FOR OUTLET CONNECTIONS Frank 5.Klancnik, Chicago, Ill. Application November 19, 1938, Serial No.24l,389

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical devices, and

' is more particularly directed to outlet connec- I one attempting toascertain which of the fuses is to be replaced. While it is the fuse inthe current supply that has burned out, it may have been caused by ashort circuit of one of the devices attached to an outlet connection,and the replacement of the fuse will not correct the source of thetrouble.

It is a primary object of the present invention to eliminate the aboveobjections and to provide an improved outlet connection embodying a fusewhich may be readily removed and replaced, and to which outletconnection, electrical devices may be attached and detached with outsubjecting the fuse to wear and without injury to the fuse element.

A further object is the provision of an outlet connection which containsa fuse that may be readily and easily replaced without cutting off themain current supply, and which fuse serves as detector means for readilyfinding out the source of the trouble by being inoperable or burningoutwhen the device attached therewith is short circuited.

A further object is the provision of an outlet connection arranged toreceive a fuse therein and through which fuse, the current passes when adevice is attached to the outlet connection.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter setforth, and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of a duplex outlet connection and fuseconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged-longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken on the line4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the fuse; and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the fuse element employed withthe fuse.

My invention is illustrated with a duplex type of outlet connection, butmay be employed with various other types, such as the drop cord orplug-in types. In the kind of outlet connection shown, the numeral l0designates the body of insulating material and of conventional shape,provided with cored portions H and I2 at each end thereof forming topwalls Illa-10a into which slot openings l3 and M, respectively, arearranged in pairs and communicate with the cored portions. The body IDhas contact strips l5 and i6 fixed to either side thereof, and whichstrips extend longitudinally and into the cored portions H and i2. Inthe type of duplex outlet connection shown, the contact strips l5 and I5 are engaged by contact fingers I1 and 18 of a plug [9, .(shown indotted lines Fig. 4), for attaching an electrical device thereto, but inthis instance, the contact strip l6 has its free ends I Ga-l 8a bentinwardly at right angles, while the contact strip l5 remains relativelystraight to extend below slot openings I3-I3.

The body In is provided intermediate each pair of slot openings l3 and Hwith a relativel, large opening 20 having side walls 2l-22 which extendthe entire depth of the body and the free ends of the contact strip [5are directed to engage the walls 22-22 below each of the slot openings|3| 3. The bent portions l6a-l6a of contact strip 16 are directedadjacent the inner edges of the walls 2l-2| and serve with a relativelyshort contact strip 23 for engaging the fuse placed within the opening20. The contact strip 23 has a right-angled formation 24 directedadjacent the outer edges of walls 2I-2| which serves with the bentportion |6a to contact the fuse, while the contact strip 23 extendsalongside of wall 2| below slot opening l4 and serves with the ends ofcontact strip l5 to engage the contact fingers l1 and 18 of plug IS.

The fuse designated as 25 is inserted between the bent ends 16a and 24of the contact strips l6 and 23, respectively. When inserted, the fuse I25 remains flush with the top wall Illa of the outlet connection andcompletes the circuit to the contact strips l6 and 23 which are engagedby the contact fingers ii and i8 when the plug i9 is attached.

The fuse 25, (Figs. 3 and 5), is constructed of insulating material andis cored to form a hollow body 26 and an open top 2'! into which mica orother suitable material 28 is securely fixed to provide a window throughwhich the metal fuse element 23 is visible. The fuse element 29 is bowedintermediate its length at 30 and its free ends 3| and 32 extend throughopenings 33 and 34 provided in opposite walls of the hollow body 28 ofthe fuse 25. .The free ends 3I-32 are formed to lie parallel to the sidewalls of the fuse and flush in grooves 35 and 36 provided therein andthese ends 3l-32 engage the portions |8a and 24 of contact strips l6 and23, respectively, when the fuse is in position. The top portion of thefuse 25 adjacent the window 28 has outwardly projecting portions 31 and38 which serve as finger grips by which the fuse may be removed, andthey also serve as means to limit the insertion of the fuse in opening20.

When inserting the fuse, the walls 2l-22 guide the same until receivedbetween the contacts lid and 24, and at which time, the fuse is securelyretained thereby between the walls.

It will be noted that neither the fuse body nor the fuse element isexposed to be contacted by the contact fingers I'I-l8' of the plug 19 ofa device attached, and when attached, its contact fingers lI-l8 enter apair of slot openings l3l4 in the top wall Illa of the outlet connectionand are guided by wall 2l'2l until they engage contact strips IS and 23to complete the circuit.

The fuse 25 has a fuse element of greater resistance than the main fusein the circuit, and

should a short occur to on of thedevices attached thereto, this fuseelement will burn out, severing its particular outlet without affectingthe source of.power to the other outlets.

In order to replace the fuse, it is only necessary to remove the plug IQof the device which exposes the fuse 25 to view and which fuse may bereadily removed by gripping the opposite extensions 31-38. When removed,a new fuse may then be inserted and the line is again ready for service.7

A new fuse element 29 may be inserted in the fuse body 25 by threadingthe same through openings 33-34 until the shoulders 39-39 of the fuseelement engage the wall of the fuse. lhen the end 3| of the fuse elementis bent flush in groove 35 and is held manually therein while the freeend 32 of the fuse element is forced inwardly to cause the intermediateportion thereof to bow upwardly as at 30, and at which time the free end32 of the fuse element is bent flush in groove 36. The ends 3| and 32 ofthe fuse element 29 serv with the bowed portion 30 thereof to retain thesame in position in the fuse body 2!.

It will-be noted that with this type Of fuse, the fuse element thereinmay be viewed through the window 28 and its condition ascertained, andalso a new fuse element may be inserted while utilizing the same fusebody.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that minor changes coming withing thefield of invention claimed, may be resorted to, if desired.

I claim:

1. In an electrical outlet connection, a body having apair'of spacedapart attachment plug receiving openings and a fuse receiving openingintermediate the pair of openings, a pair of spaced terminals carried bysaid body and aligned with the pair of openings, a fuse having a fuseelement therein and insertable in said fuse receiving opening tomaintain electric contact between the pair of terminals, and means onsaid fuse body to permit the ready removal thereof.

2. In an electrical outlet connection, a body having a fuse receivingopening and an attachment plug receiving opening on each side of saidopening, a pair of spaced terminals carried by the body to be engaged bythe attachment plug, a fuse having a fuse element extending therethroughto maintain contact between the pair of terminals when the fuse isinserted in position in the said fuse receiving opening of the body.

3. In an electrical outlet connection, a body having a pair ofattachment plug openings and a rectangular opening adapted to receive adetachable fuse, a fuse having a fuse element extending therethrough, apair of spaced terminals carried by th body aligned with the attachmentplug openings and arranged to receive said fuse therebetween to maintainelectric contact between the pair of terminals, said pair of terminalsserving to frictionally retain the fuse in position.

FRANK J. KLANCNIK.

